School desk seat and support therefor



May 18, 1-943 2,319,202

SGHOOL DESK SEAT AND SUPPORT THEREFOR w. J. BARGEN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 8, 1941 W/LL/AM ([BARGEN.

May 18, 1943 w. J. BARGEN SCHOOL DESK SEAT AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed April 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W/LL/AMJBARGEN Patented May 18, 1943 SCHOOL DESK SEAT-AND SUPPORT THEREFOR William J. Bargen, Waukegan, Ill.

Application April 8, 1941, Serial No. 387,505

4 Claims. (Cl. 155-134) This invention relates to school desks.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a school desk a seat support which is so constructed that several difierent types of one-piece or combined seats and backs may be interchangeably used on the support without affecting the remaining structure. 7

A further object of this invention is to provide in a vertically adjustable seat structure an improved seat and top supporting member which may be used in connection with the desk structure embodied in my copending application for an Off set pedestal desk, Serial No. 286,699,'filed July 26, 1939, so as to simplify the attachment of the seat and top to the pedestal.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combined seat and back which is removab-ly secured to a support in such a manner that the rear portion of the seat is free of the support in order that the back and the rear portion of the seat may rock or flex under the weight 01' pressure applied thereto.

A further object of this invention is to provide a support for a seat and desk top which is so constructed that the seat and top may be independently removed and attached without disturbing one or the other and without disturbing the remaining structure.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction;combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings and first to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the numeral l5 designates generally a pedestal structure which is similar in 1 substantially every detail to the offset pedestal structure embodied in my copending application, Serial No. 286,699, filed July 26, 1939. This-pedestal structure l5 includes a base member [6 having an upstanding and rearwardly inclined standard I1 secured thereto and disposedadjacent one side edge thereof. The standard I! is of hollow construction and an upper vertically adjustable standard member including a stem I8 and a U-shaped member I 9 is adapted to extend upwardly from the hollow standard -I 'l. The stem I8 is vertically adjustable in the standard 11 and is held in vertically. adjusted position by means of clamping bolts 20.

The U-shaped member I9 includes a U-shaped top wall 2| provided with an inner U-shaped flange 22 and an outer U-shaped flange 23. The U-shaped member l9 isyprovided with a pair of spaced apart cars 24 and 25, which extend from the flange 23 and which provide a means for at taching a portion of the desk or top support to the U-shaped member IS.

A substantially U-shaped plate 26 engages on the upper side of the U-shaped member l9 and is secured thereto by fastening devices 21. The plate 26 is provided with an extension 28 which extends from the front leg of the U-shaped plate 26, and the plate 26 is also provided with a second orrear extension 29, which extends from the rear leg of the plate 26. The two extensions 28 and 29 are disposed in parallel relation and form continuations of the parallel legs of the U-shaped member 25, the extensions 28, 29 being preferably narrower in width than the width of the parallel legs of the U member 26. The U member 26 on its front side has formed integral therewith a front depending flange 30, which inclines downwardly and rearwardly and the rear leg of the U member 25 is provided with a rear depending flange 3! which is disposed at substantially a right angle to the plate 26 and the extension.

The U member 26 on its upper side is formed with an inner bead or flange 32, which extends along the inner edge of the extension 23 and continues about the bight of the U member 26 and also extends along the inner edge of the rear leg of the U member 26 and terminates at the outer end of the extension 29. This bead or flange 32 is of tapering construction, as shown in Figure 4,

the front side 33 thereof being substantially higher than the rear side 34 so that when a combined seat and back structure, generally designated at 35, is mounted on the plate 26, the seat portion of the combined seat and back will be in- "'clined downwardly from the forward portion thereof and will engage the upper edges of the flanges 30 and 32. 1

The bight portion 36 of the gages over the stem or upper standard member [8. The front leg 38 of the U member 26 is provided on the upper side thereof with a pair of.

spaced apart bosses 39 and 49, which are disposed flange 32 is formed 7 yvith an inwardly offset portion 37, which eninner flange 33 and the outer flange 30 by a bracing web 42. The fastening devices 2'! are adapted to be threaded into the bosses 39 and 40 through the front leg of the U member 26.

The plate 26 in the bight 43 thereof is provided. with a pair of bosses 44 and 45 which are adapted to engage over the ears 24 and 25 respectively, and fastening devices 46 are adapted to be threaded into the bosses 44 and 45 and engage through the ears 24 and 25. A downwardly extending bracing Web 41 extends from the flange 36 to the boss 24 and a bracing web 48 also extends from the flange 36 to the boss 45. A tapered flange 49 is formed integral with the bight 43 on its outer edge and, preferably, the inner side of the flange 49 is formed or cast integral with the bosses 44 and 45.

The U-shaped plate 26 is provided on its rear side with a laterally extending ear 56 formed with an opening through which a suitable fastening device is adapted to engage for securing the rear side portion of the seat 35 onto the plate 26. The rear extension 29 is also formed with an opening 52 through which a fastening device is adapted to engage for attaching the opposite rear side portion of the seat 35 to the plate 26. These fastening devices are in the form of bolts 53 as shown in Figure -1. The front extension 28 of the plate 26 is disposed substantially flush with the upper edge of the front flange 30 as shown in Figure 14, and is formed with an opening 55 through which a suitable fastening member is adapted to engage for attaching the front side portion of the seat 35 thereto.

The plate 26 on its forward side is formed with a rearwardly offset flange 56 and is also formed with a laterally extending ear 51, which is formed with an opening 53. An angularly disposed web 59 extends from the ear 5'! to the flange 33 at substantially the point where the flange 33 merges with the flange 36. A boss 60 is disposed between the flange 59 and the rearwardly offset flange 56. Another bracing web 6! extends from the boss 45 to the web 59.

A desk top supporting member, generally designated as 62, is adapted to be secured to the bight portion 43 of the plate 26 and the top supporting member 62 includes a base plate of substantially T configuration which has a flange 63 formed integral with the top portion 64 of the base plate. The flange 63 is adapted to be disposed in substantial alignment with the front flange 30 and is inclined downwardly and rearwardly on substantially the same angle as the flange 36, so as to form a substantial continuation thereof, as shown in Figure 2.

The stem portion 65 of the supporting plate 62 is adapted to extend along the bight 43 of the plate 26 and the stem portion 65 is formed with an outer flange 66, which engages against the outer side of the flange 49. A rear lug 61 is cast integral with the rear end of the stem 55 and forms a filler block which is engageable with the under side of the bight portion 43. An intermediate lug or filler block 68 is carried by the stem. 65 and extends inwardly from the flange 66, being disposed between the two ears 24 and 25 when the supporting base 62 is in applied position. The stem portion 65 is formed with a pair of openings 69 on opposite sides of the lug 68 through which the fastening devices 46 are adapted to engage for firmly securing the base portion 62 on the bight 43 of the plate 26. A hollow supporting arm is formed integral with the base plate 62 and extends upwardly and forwardly therefrom, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

The outer side flange 66 is formed with an arcuate portion H, which merges into the lower portion of the hollow supporting arm 10. The supporting arm 10 is adapted to have positioned therein a vertically adjustable top supporting stem 12, which is carried by a book box or compartment 13. The details of construction of the book box 13 together with the arm Ill and the adjustable member 12 are embodied in my copending application, Ser. No. 323,800, filed March 13, 1940, now Patent Number 2,254,133, issued Aug. 26, 1 941. The book box 13 includes a hinged desk top 14 and a laterally extending art box 15 which is fixed to one side of the book compartment 13.

As shown in Figure 4, the front flange 36 extends above and below the front leg 38 of the plate 26 and in like manner the flange 63 extends above and below the top portion 64 of the base plate 62 so that the flange 63 in front elevation will appear as a continuation of the flange 30. In like manner the flange 66 extends above and below the stem portion 65 and an inwardly projecting flange 16 extends inwardly from the arcuate portion H of the flange 66 and is disposed in parallel relation with the front flange 63, as shown in Figure 2. The supporting plate or member 62 is adapted to be secured to the forward portion of the plate 26 on the under side thereof by fastening devices Tl, which are threaded into the boss 60 and into an opening 18 formed in the ear 51.

The combined seat and back 35 comprises a seat I member 19, which is formed with a convex forward portion and a concave portion 8i, which merges with the rear portion of the convex portion 80. The concave rear portion 8| merges with an upwardly bent connecting member 32, which connects the back 83 with the seat 19. The point of mergence between the upwardly bent rear portion 82 and the concave portion 8! extends rearwardly from the rear leg of the plate 26 so that the back 83 may be resiliently supported from the seat 19. The back 83 is of longitudinally arcuate configuration extending forwardly as at 84 at its lower portion and then extending rearwardly, as "at 85, at its upper portion. The back 83 together with connecting member 82 are of such a configuration as to closely conform to the configuration of a person when in sitting position so that the combined seat and back 35 will snugly engage the body of the person seated thereon.

The a-rcuate connecting member 82 is formed on a relatively large radius so that the hips of the user may engage in this arcuate portion and the two portions 84 and 85 are disposed on a curvature, which conforms to the natural curvature of the spine when a person is in a sitting position. In practice, the seat 19 and the back 83 are formed as a single unit being formed out of material which is bent to the configuration shown, or if desired, the seat 19 and the back 83 may be formed out of plastic, solid wood, plywood or other suitable material which has a degree of resiliency so that when pressure is applied to the back 83, this back may flex rearwardly, this flexing being particularly facilitated by disposing the arcuate connecting portion 82 rearwardly of the rear leg of the plate 26.

In the use of the seat structure herebefore described the combined seat and back 35 is secured by four bolts to the arms ofthe U-shaped plate or supporting member 26. The height of the supporting member 26 may be adjusted by means of the adjusting bolts 20, which secure the upper standard member l8 in adjusted position within the hollow standard member The combined seat and back 35 may be made out of plywood, solid wood or composition material and is of such a thickness that it will readily maintain its shape and at the same time is of a resilient construction so that the back 83 may readily bend when pressure is applied thereto. This bending action occurs throughout the arcuate connecting member 82 and rearwardly of the rear fastening bolts 53.

While I have shown a desk top secured to the pedestal structure which includes vertically adjustable top supporting members 10 and 12 different types of top or desk supporting members may be substituted for the structure herein shown so that the combined pedestal and seat structure will permit the use or interchanging of different types of desks or tops. The longitudinally 'arcuate configuration of the back 83 is designed to conform to the normal curvature of the back of the majority of users. This seat structure may be mounted on the pedestal base and seat supporting member l8 by merely removing the four bolts which secure the seat member 19 on the supporting plate 26.

What I claim is:

1. In a school desk including a pedestal base naving a U-shaped upper portion, a combined seat and back, a combined supporting plate for supporting and attaching the combined seat and back to the upper portion of the base, said plate including a U-shaped member having the parallel legs thereof longer than the legs of said upper pedestal portion, a pair of ears extending from the bight portion of said plate oppositely from the parallel legs of said plate, means securing said plate to said upper pedestal portion, and means securing said combined seat and back to said ears and the end portions of the legs of said plate.

2. As a new article of manufacture a supporting means for supporting a desk seat, said means including a U-shaped plate member, a flange extending along the outer edge of one parallel leg, said flange in transverse section extending from opposite faces of said plate member, a pair of ears carried by said plate substantially aligning with the parallel legs of said plate and extending from said plate oppositely from the legs of said plate, an inwardly ofiset flange carried by said plate and extending from the bight thereof to the outer end of one ear, a flange carried by said plate on the outer edge of the other leg thereof and terminating at substantially the outer end of said other car, and a flange carried by one side of said plate along the outer edge of the bight thereof, said latter flange tapering in width from one edge of said plate in the direction of the other edge.

3. In a school desk, a pedestal having a U- shaped upper end portion disposed with the bight thereof adjacent one side of the pedestal base and the parallel legs thereof extending in the direction of the other side, a substantially U-shaped plate on said upper end portion having the parallel legs thereof parallel with the legs of said upper end portion and of a length greater than the legs of said upper end portion, a pair of ears carried by said plate extending oppositely from and substantially aligning with the legs of said plate, means securing saidplate on said upper end "portion, an upwardly extending flange carried by the outer edge of said plate and terminating intermediate the ends of one leg and one ear thereof, a tapering flange at the bight of said plate and extending from one ear to the other car, a seat engaging on said plate and having a substantial portion thereof extending rearwardly of the latter, and means engaging through said ears and the end portions of the legs of said plate for detachably securing said seat on said plate, said seat at its forward portion resting on said first flange and also resting on said tapering flange whereby said seat will be inclined downwardly from the front to the rear thereof.

4. As a new article of manumacture, a supporting means for supporting and securing a desk seat to a pedestal basehaving a U-shaped top, said means including a U-shaped plate member, flanges extending along the outer edges of the parallel legs of said plate, one of said flanges extending above and below the opposite faces of said plate, the leg of said plate correlated with said one flange including an upwardly ofiset part flush with the upper edge of said one flange, and a pair of ears carried by said plate substantially aligning with the legs of said plate and extending from the latter oppositely from the legs of said plate.

WILLIAM J. BARGEN. 

